Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Steven Montez #12 hands off to Colorado Buffaloes running back Beau Bisharat #35 in the first quarter at Folsom Field Sept. 23, 2017.

BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 23: Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Drew Lewis #20 go after Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Browning #3 in the third quarter at Folsom Field September 23, 2017. Lewis was called with a face mask penalty on the play. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 23: Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Steven Montez #12 throws a pass for an interception to Washington Huskies defensive back Myles Bryant #5 (not pictured) in the third quarter at Folsom Field September 23, 2017. Washington won 37-10. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre pacing the sidelines during the game against Washington at Folsom Field Sept. 23, 2017.

BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 23: Washington Huskies running back Myles Gaskin #9 scrambles down field against Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Drew Lewis #20 and Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Rick Gamboa #32 and eventually scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Folsom Field September 23, 2017. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

Andy Cross, The Denver Post

Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Steven Montez #12 gets past the Washington defense on a keeper for a first down in the first quarter at Folsom Field Sept. 23, 2017.

Andy Cross, The Denver Post

Colorado Buffaloes running back Phillip Lindsay #23 pushes the defense of Washington Huskies defensive back Ezekiel Turner #24 and Washington Huskies defensive lineman Greg Gaines #99 to score a touchdown in the first quarter at Folsom Field Sept. 23, 2017.

Andy Cross, The Denver Post

Colorado Buffaloes running back Phillip Lindsay #23 celebrates his touchdown against the Washington Huskies with teammates Colorado Buffaloes offensive lineman Josh Kaiser #75 and tight end George Frazier #5 in the first quarter at Folsom Field Sept. 23, 2017.

Andy Cross, The Denver Post

The Colorado Buffaloes marching band performs during pre-game before the Buffs took on the Washington Huskies at Folsom Field Sept. 23, 2017.

Andy Cross, The Denver Post

The Colorado Buffaloes football team take a knee and pray in the end zone before the playing the Washington Huskies at Folsom Field Sept. 23, 2017.

Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Steven Montez #12 hands off to Colorado Buffaloes running back Beau Bisharat #35 in the first quarter at Folsom Field Sept. 23, 2017.

Andy Cross, The Denver Post

Colorado University's Ralphie the Buffalo could not run due to heavy rain on the field, so Chip the mascot charges down the field instead before the kick-off against Washington at Folsom Field Sept. 23, 2017.

Andy Cross, The Denver Post

Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Steven Montez #12 throws early in the first quarter against Washington at Folsom Field Sept. 23, 2017.

Colorado faced third-and-4 from its own 30-yard line. Montez stood in the shotgun with a five-wide receiver set – three to the far side, two to the near. He’d been pressured often Saturday night by the Washington defense, sacked twice to that point and continuously flushed from the pocket. But after showing blitz with two linebackers, the Huskies rushed only three.

Montez took the snap and within 1.8 seconds, the ball was out of his hands. The problem? Out of five available targets, Montez, a redshirt sophomore, never glanced off wide receiver Bryce Bobo, paying no attention to Bryant, Washington’s defensive back, who sat in his zone, jumped the route and returned the interception 35 yards for a touchdown. The play put the seventh-ranked Huskies up 24-10 with 2 minutes, 3 seconds remaining in the third quarter, and they rolled from there, winning 37-10.

It was that kind of night for Montez. He has the physical tools to be an elite Pac-12 quarterback, but showed he still has a way to go before he gets there.

“I saw the corner, he was pressed, and then bailed. We had an under-call, which is like a five-yard in-route, so I was thinking, ‘the corner bailed, we should have it,’” Montez, who has seven career starts, said of his final interception of the night. “When I released the ball, I saw what I want to say was the nickel buzz right under it … bad decision.”

He whispered again: “Extremely bad decision.”

Montez completed 21 of 27 passes for 171 yards and a trio of interceptions in the Buffs’ loss. He was sacked four times. Two of his pass attempts were dropped, another went off the fingertips of running back Phillip Lindsay, landing in the lap of Washington’s Jordan Miller, who had two picks.

It’s hard to win when you throw three interceptions, Montez said, adding the light rain and cold temperatures didn’t affect his play. But his mental lapses weren’t limited to his throws. He also misjudged a down-and-distance situation in the second quarter, costing the Buffs a first down — and more.

Montez protected himself on a third-and-3 play in the second quarter. Instead of diving or waiting another half-second longer to slide, Montez gave himself up after a two-yard run with green grass in front of him, leading to fourth-and-inches from the Buffs’ 29. On the next play, CU punter Alex Kinney had his kick blocked. Washington (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12) recovered the ball on the 12 and scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession to tie the game at 7-7.

“On that third down, I just got to know down and distance,” Montez said.

The Buffs (3-1, 0-1) hope Saturday’s defeat will be a learning experience for their quarterback, and if nothing else, CU coach Mike MacIntyre wants Montez to take away one thing from this loss.

Phillip Lindsay capped off his college football career by being named the Colorado Buffaloes’ most valuable player. The senior running back received the honor at the team’s senior banquet on Sunday at the Dal Ward Athletic Center in Boulder.

Trevon Bluiett scored 25 points, J.P. Macura emerged from his slump by making his first six shots, and No. 13 Xavier completed a streak of non-conference payback wins by drubbing Colorado 96-69 on Saturday.